Refrigerator filter device and method of use

ABSTRACT

A filter device is presented for use with refrigerators. The filter device has a frame, a filter element and at least one connection member. The filter device is connected to a refrigerator thereby sealing the space below a refrigerator. Once in potion, the filter device forces air to pass through the filter element prior to accessing the coils of the refrigerator. This system helps to prevent the build-up of debris on the coils which reduces the need to clean the coils, improves the efficiency of the refrigerator and improves the longevity of the refrigerator.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a refrigerator coil filter. More specifically,and without limitation, this invention relates to a refrigerator coilfilter device and method of use to improve the operation ofrefrigerators.

Conventional refrigerators consist of a thermally insulated compartmentand a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside of the refrigeratorto its external environment so that the inside of the refrigerator iscooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the surroundingenvironment. To aid in the transfer of heat to the surroundingenvironment the heat pump of a conventional refrigerator is connected toa coil or a plurality of coils through which refrigerant is passed. Asthe refrigerant is passed through these coils, the conductive qualitiesof the coil material transfers heat to the environment.

A problem exists in the art as the coils often get covered by debriswhich includes dust, dirt, grime, hair, and the like. As this debriscollects on the coils, this layer of debris acts as an insulator whichinhibits the transfer of heat from the warm coils to the coolenvironment. This reduces the refrigerator's efficiency and causesadditional and unnecessary energy consumption and reduces the longevityof the refrigerator.

To assist with the transfer of heat from the warm coils to the coolenvironment, conventional refrigerators are designed to passively andactively encourage airflow over and around the coils including theimplementation of fans. While this airflow improves heat transfer awayfrom the coils, the airflow simultaneously exasperates and acceleratesthe collection of debris on the coils.

To combat the collection of debris on the coils, active cleaning of thecoils is required. To do so, the coils which are conventionallypositioned underneath and/or behind the refrigerator must be brushed,scrubbed or vacuumed as best as possible. However, this is an extremelyinconvenient, labor intensive and messy process. In addition, duein-part to the fact that the coils are often positioned very close toone another, and the fact that there is very limited access to thecoils, much of the coils cannot be effectively cleaned. Thereforecleaning the coils has a limited impact. As such, it is important tokeep the coils as clean as possible.

Thus, it is a primary object of the present invention to improve uponthe state of the art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device andmethod of use that helps prevent the accumulation of debris onrefrigerator coils.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device andmethod of use the reduces or eliminates the need and inconvenience ofcleaning refrigerator coils.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device andmethod of use that improves the efficiency and longevity ofrefrigerators.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device andmethod of use that saves energy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device andmethod of use that can be retrofit to any existing refrigerator.

These and other objects, features, or advantages will become apparentfrom the specification, drawings and claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A filter device is presented for use with refrigerators. The filterdevice has a frame, a filter element and at least one connection member.The filter device is connected to a refrigerator thereby sealing thespace below a refrigerator. Once in position, the filter device forcesair to pass through the filter element prior to accessing the coils ofthe refrigerator. This system helps to prevent the build-up of debris onthe coils which reduces the need to clean the coils, improves theefficiency of the refrigerator and improves the longevity of therefrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the system; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, a refrigerator 10 is presented having athermally insulated compartment 12 having a front side 14, a back side16, opposing sidewalls 18, a top side 20 and a bottom side 22. At leastone door 24 is connected to the front side 14 which provides access tothe interior of thermally insulated compartment 12.

A frame 26 is connected to the insulated compartment 12. Frame 26positions insulated compartment 12 a distance above the floor andprovides the necessary support for refrigerator 10 and its components.Conventionally, the front side 14 of the frame 26 has a flat front facewith one or more access ports 26A which provide access to the componentspositioned below insulated compartment 12. Also connected to therefrigerator are rollers or legs 27, which are preferably adjustable inheight. Legs 27 preferably adjustably position the height of therefrigerator 10 above the floor, which creates a space between thebottom side 22 of frame 26 and the floor.

A heat pump 28 having a compressor, a condenser and refrigerant isconnected to frame 26. A coil 30 is fluidly connected to heat pump 28through which refrigerant is circulated. Preferably coil 30 is a hollowthermally conductive tube which extends in a coiled or s-shapedback-and-forth fashion. In one arrangement, coil 30 is positioned belowinsulated compartment 12 in the space created by frame 26.Alternatively, coil 30 is positioned behind insulated compartment 12.Alternatively, coil 30 is positioned both below and behind insulatedcompartment 12.

A fan 32 is connected to frame 26. Fan 26 is any conventional air movingdevice which helps to move air over coil 30. Fan 26 is preferablypositioned beneath insulated compartment 12. Alternatively, fan 26 ispositioned behind insulated compartment 12.

A kick plate 34 is removeably and replaceably connected to the frame 26.Kick plate 34 is positioned beneath insulated compartment 12 and ispreferably connected to the front side 14 of the frame 26 by way of amechanical spring loaded arm arrangement 35 which removeably andreplaceably engages access ports 26A. Alternatively, kick plate 34 isconnected to the front side 14 of the frame 26 by any other conventionalmanner including a snap fit, frictional engagement, nuts and bolts,screws, the use of locking members, or a similar mechanical arrangement.Kick plate 34 is of any ornamental and aesthetically pleasingappearance. Kick plate 34 has a plurality of openings 36 therein thatallow for the passage of air there through. Preferably openings 36 arein the form of louvers.

A filter device 38 is removeably and replaceably connected to frame 26.Filter device 38 is positioned beneath insulated compartment 12 and isconnected to the front side 14 of the frame 26 in any conventionalmanner. Preferably filter device 38 extends across the entire horizontallength of the front side 14 of the refrigerator 10 from opposing side 18to opposing side 18. Preferably filter device 38 extends across theentire vertical distance between the bottom of the insulated compartment12 to the floor. In this way, filter device 38 seals the entire openingcreated by access ports 26A as well as sealing the entire area betweenthe bottom side 22 of frame 26 and the floor.

Filter device 38 has a front frame member 40, an opposing back framemember 42 and a filter element 44 positioned therebetween. Preferably,front frame member 40 and back frame member 42 are L-shaped when viewedfrom the side and include a plurality of apertures 46 therein that allowair to pass through frame members 40, 42 and filter element 44, theseapertures 46 can include a wire mesh or plastic mesh arrangement. Frontframe member 40 and back frame member 42 are permanently connected toone another in any conventional means such as welding, gluing, or thelike. Alternatively, front frame member 40 and back frame member 42 areremoveably and replaceably connected to one another by any means such assnap fit, frictional engagement, nuts and bolts or any other mechanicalmeans which allows for replacement of filter element 44. Front framemember 40 and back frame member 42 are made of any conventional materialsuch as fiberglass, plastic, composite, wood, chipboard, metal or thelike.

In an alternative arrangement, only a single frame member 40, 42 extendsaround the perimeter of filter element 44 so as to frame around thefilter element 44 in the manner a picture frames around the perimeter ofa picture. In this arrangement, apertures 46 extending across the areawithin the frame member 40, 42, such as a piece of wire mesh whichextends across the entire area within frame member 40, 42 so as toprovide support to filter element 44 while simultaneously allowing airto pass there through.

Filter element 44 is any filtering material such as a piece of fabric,felt, fiberglass, polyester fiber, or the like. To provide additionalrigidity and malleability a metal grid 45 is connected to or passesthrough filter element 44. In one arrangement, front frame member 40 andback frame member 42 are not needed and instead, only the filter element44 is used or the filter element having the metal grid 45 is usedthereby obviating the need for frames 40, 42.

A compressible seal 46 is connected to the bottom side 22 of filterdevice 38. Compressible seal 46 is made of any compressible and sealingcomponent such as a seal, a gasket, a piece of foam, or the like.Compressible seal 46 connects to the floor and prevents air from passingbetween the bottom side 16 of filter device 38 and the floor.

Connected to the back side 16 of filter device 38 is at least one andpreferably a plurality of connecting members 48. In one arrangement,connecting member 48 is a magnet which is connected to the filter device38 by any conventional means such as molding the magnets into the framemember 40, 42, gluing, welding, snap-fitting or the like. In thisarrangement, the magnet magnetically holds onto the front face 14 of theframe 26 thereby holding the filter device 38 in place. In thisarrangement one continuous magnet extends across the horizontal lengthof the top backside and/or bottom backside of filter device 38.Alternatively, individual magnets are positioned apart from one anotheracross the horizontal length of the top backside and/or bottom backsideof filter device 38.

In another arrangement, connection member 48 is a hook-and-looparrangement such as Velcro® wherein one of the hook-and-loop sides isadhesively sealed to the filter device 38 and the other of thehook-and-loop sides is adhesively sealed to the front face 14 of theframe 26. In this arrangement, when connected to one another theopposing hook-and-loop sides engage one another thereby holding filterdevice 38 onto front face 14 of the frame 26. In this arrangement onecontinuous piece of Velcro extends across the horizontal length of thetop backside and/or bottom backside of filter device 38 with an opposingpiece of Velcro being positioned on the front face 14 of frame 26.Alternatively, small pieces of Velcro are positioned apart from oneanother across the horizontal length of the top backside and/or bottombackside of filter device 38 with opposing pieces of Velcro beingpositioned on the front face 14 of frame 26.

In another arrangement, connection member 48 is similar to themechanical spring loaded arm arrangement 35 (discussed above) whichengages access ports 26A.

Through holes 50 are positioned in filter device 38 which allowmechanical spring loaded arms 35 to pass through the filter device 38and engage access ports 26A. This allows for the connection of removablekick plate 34 to refrigerator 10 when filter device 38 is in place.

In operation, a user removes kick plate 34 from the front side 14 offrame 26 by applying enough pressure to overcome the hold of mechanicalspring loaded arms 35. Once removed, when using a filter device 38having magnets, the user connects the back side 16 of filter device 38to the front side 14 of frame 26. In this position the magnetsmagnetically hold the filter device 38 in place.

When using a filter device 38 having Velcro connection members 48, theuser adhesively applies one of the hook-and-loop sides to the front side14 of frame 26. The user also adhesively applies the other of thehook-and-loop sides in the same but opposite position on the back side16 of the filter device 38. Once the opposing Velcro pieces are inplace, the user connects the filter device 38 to the front side 14 ofthe frame 26. In this position the opposing Velcro hook-and-loop pieceshold the filter device 38 in place.

When in position, the filter device 38 extends across the entirevertical and horizontal length of the space below insulated compartment12. In this position, the compressible seal 46 engages the floor and thefilter device 38 covers the entire access ports 26. This forces air topass through filter device 38.

Once in position, the kick plate 34 is re-installed. This isaccomplished by inserting the mechanical spring loaded arms 35 throughthe through holes 50 in the filter device 38.

In another arrangement, filter devices 38A are positioned along theopposing sidewalls 18. These filter devices 38A cover the space betweenthe bottom side 22 of refrigerator 10 and the floor thereby preventingany contaminating air from accessing coils 30 from the spaces at theside of the refrigerator 10. These filter devices 38A are attached byany means described herein including through the use of Velcro® andmagnets. This provides the advantage of filtering the air prior toaccessing the coils 30. This helps to maintain clean coils 30 whichreduces the need to clean the coils 30 and improves the efficiency ofthe refrigerator 10. Also, because the filter device 38 extends to thefloor, this prevents food and particles dropped onto the floor fromgoing under the refrigerator.

From the above discussion it will be appreciated that theabove-described device and method of use offers many advantages over theprior art. Namely, the device and method presented helps prevent theaccumulation of debris on refrigerator coils; reduces or eliminates theneed and inconvenience of cleaning refrigerator coils; improves theefficiency and longevity of refrigerators; saves energy; and can beretrofit to any existing refrigerator.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variousmodifications could be made to the device without parting from thespirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changesfall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be coveredthereby.

We claim:
 1. A refrigerator filter device comprising: a refrigeratorhaving a top, a bottom a front side, a back side and opposing sidewalls;said refrigerator positioned on a floor; said refrigerator having aninsulated compartment, a heat pump, and a coil connected to a frame;wherein the insulated compartment is positioned above the floor on theframe; a removable and replaceable filter device connected to the frontside of the frame; and wherein the filter device seals the space betweenthe insulated compartment and the floor
 2. The device of claim 1 whereinthe filter device has a filter element.
 3. The device of claim 1 whereinthe filter device has a frame member.
 4. The device of claim 1 whereinthe filter device has a first frame member and a second fame memberconnected to one another.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein a filterelement is positioned between the first frame member and a second framemember.
 6. The device of claim 4 wherein the first frame member and thesecond frame member are removeably and replaceably connected to oneanother.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the filter device has a framemember which extends around the periphery of a filter element.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the filter device has a compressible sealwhich seals to the floor.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the filterdevice is positioned between the front face of the frame and a removablekick plate.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the filter device isconnected to the front face of the frame by magnets.
 11. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the filter device is connected to the front face of theframe by a hook-and-loop system.
 12. The device of claim 1 furthercomprising a second filter device positioned a long each sidewall whichseals the space between the insulated compartment and the floor.